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Identification of a by-product of nitric oxide synthase activity in human acute brain injury with in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

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journal contribution
posted on 2002-03-01, 00:00 authored by M Silberstein, D Lane, Seetal DoddSeetal Dodd, K Opeskin
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Laboratory studies have been used to identify nitric oxide as a notable mediator in neuronal death after acute brain injury. To our knowledge, this has not previously been confirmed with in vivo study in humans. Our purpose was to seek in vivo evidence for the induction of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in human acute brain injury by using proton MR spectroscopy.

METHODS: In vitro proton MR spectra were obtained in neural extracts from 30 human cadavers, and in vivo spectra were obtained in 20 patients with acute brain injury and in a similar number of control subjects.

RESULTS: We identified a unique peak at 3.15 ppm by using in vivo proton MR spectroscopy in eight of 20 patients with acute brain injury but not in 20 healthy volunteers (P < .002). On the basis of in vitro data, we have tentatively assigned this peak to citrulline, a NOS by-product.

CONCLUSION:
To our knowledge, our findings suggest, for the first time, that excitotoxicity may occur in human acute brain injury. Confirmation with the acquisition of spectra in very early acute cerebral injury would provide a rationale for the use of neuroprotective agents in these conditions, as well as a new noninvasive method for quantification.

History

Journal

American journal of neuroradiology

Volume

23

Pagination

389 - 392

Publisher

American Society of Neuroradiology

Location

[Oakbrook, Ill.]

ISSN

0195-6108

eISSN

1936-959X

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2002, American Society of Neuroradiology

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